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Tips for staying safe while running

The murder of Mollie Tibbets has some runners wondering if they need to take safety precautions.

In today's world, many people don't feel safe when out by themselves. They say that it prevents them from wanting to exercise at all.

"It's just not something I feel safe doing right now," Rebecca Perelli said.

Perelli says that as a mother and a woman, she's constantly looking over her shoulder when out on the trails, and she's not alone. Master John Faett at Victory Martial Arts in Okemos is getting more and more people in his self-defense classes for this reason.

"I feel like society is becoming more and more violent. We've found that our enrollment is much higher because people are more aware," Faett said

Faett says there are multiple moves you can do if you ever do find yourself in a dangerous situation, like a kick to the groin.

"If you don't remember anything else, that if you make the decision ahead of time and you're aggressive. We joke you put on your crazy hat. If you put your crazy hat on and you keep fighting and going and you don't stop, then you have the highest chance of survival."

Another move Faett showed FOX 47 was how to get yourself out of a chokehold. In this situation, you should use one hand to push the attacker's hand away from you, while using the base of your other hand to break their jaw. He says then, using that "crazy hat" mentality, use your knees and elbows to fight them off. Faett says that the more you fight, the less likely the attacker will keep attacking.

"They want an easy mark, not someone who is going to fight them, so they are likely to give up at that point," he said.

He believes everyone should be aware of their surroundings at all times, and just be prepared.

"I think it is life and death. Everyone should be armed. Armed with knowledge and the ability to defend themselves," he said.

FOX 47 also spoke with Michigan State Police. They said to always let people know where you are going and always run with a buddy.